Great news for public education in Pennsylvania—The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has denied the application for Unbound Academic Institute PA Charter School, an AI-driven cyber charter school that sought approval to operate in the Commonwealth.

Read the full denial here.

We are thrilled with the decision of Governor Shapiro’s Department of Education and are hopeful that this is a step towards further cyber charter accountability.

Unbound Academic’s application was rejected due to deficiencies in all five required evaluation criteria, including:

1. Lack of Sustainable Support – The applicant provided no evidence of sustainable support from teachers, parents, guardians, or students, failing to demonstrate community backing for its model.
2. Inadequate Planning and Capability – The proposed cyber charter lacked proper insurance, had an unsuitable physical location, and failed to outline how it would provide comprehensive learning experiences for students.
3. Failure to Meet Academic Standards – PDE found that the school’s plans did not sufficiently align with Pennsylvania’s academic standards and requirements.
4. Deficient Application Compliance – Unbound Academic failed to provide information necessary to evaluate the extent to which programs outlined in the Application will enable students to meet all academic standards under 22 Pa. Code Chapter 4.
5. Lack of a Model for Success – The proposed school did not demonstrate that it could serve as a viable or effective model for other public schools.

Additionally, PDE noted serious concerns with the financial planning in the application. Unbound Academic failed to account for critical budget components, including accurate projections for special education students and appropriate revenue calculations. The applicant relied on nationwide special education enrollment figures instead of Pennsylvania-specific data, likely underestimating the needs and associated costs of serving students in the state.

This denial is a significant victory for Pennsylvania students and taxpayers. Cyber charter schools already drain millions of dollars from public school districts each year, often with little oversight and explanation as to how these funds are being used.

For now, PDE’s decision to reject Unbound Academic’s application prevents yet another unchecked cyber charter from siphoning funds that could be used to benefit our public schools. However, until a moratorium on new cyber charter schools is enacted, Unbound can revise and resubmit their application in an effort to gain approval in the future.

As we continue to push for reform in Pennsylvania’s cyber charter funding system, this decision serves as a reminder that accountability matters. PDE took the right step in protecting students and taxpayers from an unproven and underdeveloped cyber charter experiment. We thank everyone who has asked lawmakers and Governor Shapiro to support a moratorium on new cyber charters and at Ed Voters we’ll keep advocating for stronger oversight and real solutions that invest in all public school students.

Thank you for your support of public education,

Susan Spicka, Executive Director, Education Voters of PA